THE CRESTED DOVE. 289 



huddled up in a corner on the ground, dead, and on 

 examination discovered that her liver was much affected 

 and more than twice its natural size. 



Soon afterwards I gave the cock away, but he too 

 died in the spring and was also found to have suffered 

 with his liver as well as his mate, which is curious 

 seeing that in their native country there is often frost, 

 but, of course, it is never of such long continuance 

 as it is with us, nor is there the amount of damp in 

 the Bush from which we suffer during an English winter, 

 and the damp and cold combined it is that proves so 

 disastrous to many otherwise hardy foreign birds. 



I have often thought that it is after all decidedly 

 cruel to take exotic birds from their own bright sunny 

 lands and compel them to linger out the remnant of 

 their days amid the varied horrors of what it pleases 

 us to call the British climate. 



The result of my first experience with the Crested 

 Dove in this country was unfavourable, no doubt, but 

 as the birds are very desirable from all points of view, 

 I should never be surprised to find myself giving them 

 another trial, for even fifteen shillings a pair (about 

 their present price) would pay well, for they are frugal 

 eaters and, when properly lodged, very free breeders 

 indeed, but I would take care, of course, not to expose 

 another pair out of doors during the winter. 



The scientific name of the Australian Crested Dove 

 is Ocyphaps lophotes. 



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